Guardiola Discusses Grealish and De Bruyne’s Futures at Manchester City

Pep Guardiola mentioned that decisions regarding Jack Grealish’s future at Manchester City will be made at the end of the season. Grealish, who was signed for £100 million four years ago, has established a role within the team, especially after a strong campaign in 2023 that saw the club win the Treble.

The 29-year-old player has started seven Premier League matches this season but didn’t make an appearance in the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace. This raised questions about his potential move this summer. However, Guardiola stated that nothing is finalized yet and that discussions will involve the club’s Txiki Begiristain, his successor Hugo Viana, and player representatives.

Guardiola noted, “We haven’t discussed it. I haven’t spoken to him. I know people find it hard to believe, but these matters are handled by agents and clubs. In this instance, Hugo is in the same position. They’ll make the decisions.”

While acknowledging that Grealish has two years left on his contract, Guardiola expressed concern about the player’s limited opportunities. “It’s demanding,” he said. “It’s not just Jack; every player wants to play. The whole locker room desires game time. Winning doesn’t guarantee satisfaction when you’re not participating. That’s a common feeling in any team.”

Additionally, Guardiola didn’t assure that Kevin de Bruyne would start in City’s next home match. De Bruyne, whose contract ends this summer, might play one last game for City against Bournemouth. However, with Champions League qualification at stake, Guardiola emphasized that emotions wouldn’t dictate his lineup, despite the likelihood of a farewell for De Bruyne after the match. “What Kevin wants is to win to secure our position for next season’s Champions League. That’s the priority,” he added.

Before the match, De Bruyne may receive a proper send-off, including a speech and gifts from the family of the late club legend Colin Bell. The victory in the upcoming game is crucial for City as they head into their final league match against Fulham, aiming to secure a top-five finish. Currently, sitting in sixth place, they need to perform well to maintain their Champions League spot, something they’ve achieved every season since the 2011-12 campaign.

Guardiola remarked, “It’s important for us. We’ve been around for 14 or 15 years. That’s where we want to be; if we fall short, it’s because we didn’t deserve it. But I’m determined to secure qualification.”

Looking ahead, Guardiola aims to rally his team after the previous setback against Crystal Palace. “I haven’t reviewed that game yet, perhaps tonight I’ll watch some highlights,” he shared, indicating a reluctance to dwell on past matches.

He also discussed penalties, mentioning that Omar Marmash hasn’t designated a specific taker, especially after Erling Haaland’s recent miss. “I haven’t talked to my players about that yet. We’ll have a training session this afternoon. It’s clear, takers need to score,” he stated thoughtfully.